In a message dated 98-07-21 13:40:52 EDT, you write: > I am concerned because I think there may have been two Benjamin's in > Westmoreland Co., at the same time. A Benjamin Giger and a Benjamin Geiger > and his wife Caterina. One Benjamin sold land without a signature or > stating he had a wife and the other deeds clearly state Benjamin and wife > Caterina. I know about the travel pattern of three of his sons. Benjamin > went to Kansas and then came back to Westmoreland Co., PA. Thomas went to > Oregon and John (my ancestor) went to Somerset Co., PA at least the latter > part of his life. I have never found him with a wife in Westmoreland Co. > but then I have never found his marriage record either. Of all my > grandparents--this family seems to have traveled more than any other so > nothing would surprise me. I wondered about Armstrong County and farther > West. Frankly they could be in another state but somehow I don't think so. > This is about as frustrating as trying to find John's wife, Margaret McAdams > Geiger. Eleanor, I am getting confused now. Can you tell me the particulars on the deeds you are referring to for Benjamin above? Which Benjamin are we talking about and what time period? I will try to recap some of this and maybe you can pinpoint where you think something might be wrong with what I am stating. The very first time that a Benjamin Gigar appears on the Westmoreland County census is in 1820 when he appears in Unity Township. We had agreed (I think) that prior to that time he must have been living with other Geiger relatives since we know for a fact from church bapt. records that he was in Westmoreland way before 1820. If we are right that he was living with a relative of the same surname in Westmoreland in 1810 it would have to be one of the following: John Geiger in Washington Twp., Henry Geyer in Greensburg Borough, Henery Geyer Hempfield Twp., or George Geyer in S. Huntingdon Twp. Perhaps Dave Rankin of the Geyer list can help us to identify which of these Geyers we can weed out as being Geigers in disguise--since we know actual Geyers were also in Westmoreland. Our reason for assuming Benjamin was with other Geigers in 1810 is the fact that if he were living with someone with a different surname he should appear on the census index--but he does not. If he had the same surname as the head of household he was living with he would NOT appear on the census index. In 1830 Benjamin Keiger is the only person with the Geiger or Kiger surname living in Westmoreland and he is now in Salem Twp. By 1840 we have the following in Westmoreland County: Daniel Giger, Washington Twp. John Giger, Wahsington Twp. David Giger, Washington Twp. George Geiger, Unity Twp. Henry Geiger, Unity Twp. At no time is there more than ONE Benjamin Geiger or Kiger appearing on the census in Westmoreland but by 1850 we have the following Benjamins in Westmoreland and Somerset: Benjaman Giger in Unity Twp., Westmoreland Co. Benjamin Giger in Stoystown Borough, Somerset Co. Benjamin Geiger in Somerset Twp. Somerset Co. Do you know which ones are which? Also concerning the deeds which either include the wife or don't: in any deeds of SALE of land the wife MUST be named and must sign since her dower rights must be protected--this was the law. However, if the deed was for the purchase of land then the wife need not sign or even be named--a husband could PURCHASE as much land as he wanted without his wife's permission but could not sell any without her approval. Does this information make any difference to your interpretation of the deeds in question in helping to ascertain whether we are talking about one or more Benjamin Geigers? If a wife is not named for Benjamin on a deed of sale--then indeed he was not married at the time; but it would NOT mean that on a deed of purchase. Joan